Explosives-laden car found ahead of Kunduz rally

KABUL (PAN): Police discovered an explosives-packed car in northern Kunduz province on Monday, hours before an anti-Quran burning protest was staged, officials said on Monday.

The Ministry of Interior in Kabul said terrorists wanted to cause casualties among demonstrators in the Dasht-i-Archi district, but the bid had been thwarted.

The seizure came at a time when residents planned to stage a protest, it said, adding an explosion could have killed and wounded a number of people.

Syed Sarwar Hussaini, Kunduz police spokesman, said the car had been parked on a road in the area. He claimed terrorists wanted to target the demonstrators. Subsequently, residents called off their protest, he said, adding 141 kilograms of explosives had been placed in the vehicle.

On Sunday, five people were killed and 57 others injured after they attacked the UNAMA office in Kunduz City during an anti-US protest. Governor Muhammad Anwar Jagadlak said militants had penetrated Saturday’s demonstration.

Dozens of people have been killed and wounded in violent nationwide protests sparked by the alleged desecration of the holy book by US troops at the Bagram airfield in central Parwan province.